Swimming & Diving

Thomas Breaks Freshman Record at NECs Day Three

Feb 21, 2014

The Blue Devils posted three top-three performances Friday and freshman Sabree Thomas broke the CCSU freshman 100 butterfly record during day three of the 2014 NEC Championships in Cambridge, MA. Central finished the day in fourth place.

Central grabbed two silver medals Friday in the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. Senior Kellen Power podiumed in the 100 fly with her season-best time of 55.77. Power was followed by Thomas who touched the wall in 55.82 for a new CCSU freshman record.

Thomas' time surpasses the previous Central freshman record of 57.08 set in 2005. She first broke the record in Friday morning's prelims (56.12), before besting her own mark in the evening's finals.

Also competing in the 100 butterfly, freshman Lisa Ward tallied team points for CCSU, finishing 14th overall with her season-best time of 58.61.

After finishing third in the preliminaries, clocking a season-best 1:04.31, senior Kristina Gulia earned the silver in the 100 breaststroke finals. She registered a time of 1:04.36. Gulia was followed by sophomore Alaina Papiro (8th, 1:06.14) and freshman Kaysha Dassler (12th, 1:08.22).

In the 200 freestyle, Rasile, who earned a silver medal setting a new CCSU freshman record in yesterday's 50 free finals, finished fourth overall. She swam a season-best time of 1:51.25 and was followed by senior Kathryn Kiely in ninth. Kiely also swam a season-best time in the event, touching the wall in 1:53.62.

Four more Blue Devils registered season-best times Friday in the 400 IM. Czulewicz finished sixth in the finals with her time of 4:37.79, recording the highest CCSU finish in the event. She was followed by sophomore Selene Chilton (4:41.71), senior Kasey Chilton (4:51.85) and sophomore Reyna Zascirinskis (4:53.21).

After three days and 13 events, Wagner holds onto the lead with 562 team points. Bryant sits in second (431.5) and is followed by Saint Francis U (371). CCSU is just three points out of third with 368 and Mount St. Mary's rounds out the top five (221.5).

The Blue Devils will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, for the final day of the 2014 NEC Championships. Fans can follow all of the action LIVE by watching the free video web stream on NECFrontRow.com.